POIRIER NAMED CHAIR OF AU GALOP FEST

Businessman Michel Poirier has been named honorary chairman of St-Lazare’s second annual equestrian festival, which will be held on the July 1 weekend this year.

Poirier, who owns the local IGA, was presented as honorary chairman of Festival Saint-Lazare au galop by town organizers Monday.

“I think the public will be very pleased and happy to see the diversity of the coming events,” Poirier said of the summer horse festival. “There will be a lot of family attractions.”

The three-day event provides good exposure for the municipality and attracts visitors, Poirier said. He noted that as St-Lazare has seen the growth of the Stallions youth football program over the years, he has high hopes the Au Galop festival will be a success for years to come.

Mayor Robert Grimaudo said a working committee, consisting of community organizations, businesspeople and equestrian groups, is assisting the town’s operating committee to make sure the festival is a success.

“We’ve taken every facet of the community and involved them with Saint-Lazare au galop,” Grimaudo said. “It’s a brainstorming committee. When something comes up, it makes recommendations and brings it back to the governing committee.”

The gala event at the July 1-3 festival will be a medieval-themed show to be held at the equestrian park. The main attraction at last year’s inaugural festival was the RCMP Musical Ride.

There will also be demonstrations of western activities, a horse ball competition and a carriage competition. “Everything to do with horses,” the mayor said.

Canada Day activities and the horse festival will be intertwined.

“We’re complimenting SaintLazare au galop with Canada Day weekend,” the mayor said.

There will be improved pedestrian walkways between festival sites this summer, the mayor said, adding adjustments to the set up will be made to boost security and avoid parking issues. The mayor said organizing the festival will be easier this year.

“Last year, we had to chase after sponsors. This year, the sponsors are coming to us. They heard it was a success (last summer) and they want to be involved,” he said.

Weather is a factor as most of the events are held outdoors.

“If the weather is good, it’ll be a success,” the mayor said.

Last year, some residents balked at the $585,000 costs of combined specific spending and long-term investments for the festival, which included $71,000 for the development of an equestrian park, $24,000 for the development of the Poirier Street area, $16,500 for work at Bedard Park, $8,700 on fencing for horses and $10,000 for bike racks.

The set budget for the 2016 edition is about $300,000, Grimaudo said.

“We’re not going to go over budget,” the mayor vowed.

“The reality is that festivals, the first year, are more expensive. Last year, we included some infrastructure that we won’t need to put in this year. Definitely the costs will be lower than last year,” he added.

An information session outlining festival events as well as sponsorship, food show participation and business opportunities will held Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the St-Lazare community centre, 1301 Du Bois St.